Table tennis racket



Jan. 1, 1935. MARKS 1,986,154

TABLE TENNI S RACKET Filed Sept. 28, 1933 Patented Jan. 1, 1935 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of rackets forthe game of Ping pong or tennis racket and its object is to perfect theconstruction of Ping pong or tennis racket particularly at the jointbetween the relatively thin part forming the bat and the relativelythick part forming the handle.

The invention will best be understood from the following descriptionwith due reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are views, in front and side elevation respectively, ofthe preferred form of the improved racket;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view, in perspective, of thgi form of the racketshown in Figs. 1 and 2; an

Fig. 4 is a view, in perspective, of a modified handle.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 the bat10 is shown in the usual oval shape and having, at one end of the majoraxis, a projection 12 for joining with a handle 14. The bat isboard-like and relatively thin as compared to the handle thecross-section of which is usually octagonal to provide a better grip andthe two sides that lie parallel to the faces of the bat are beveled, asat 15, to avoid a shoulder. Heretofore the bat projection 12 hasordinarily been fitted into a transverse slot routed into one end of thehandle and the two parts secured together by nails.

While it would naturally be supposed that the greatest strain on thejoint between the bat and the handle would come from batting the Pingpong ball to and fro this is not the fact. Players, in the excitement ofthe game,will knock sharply on the table, floor or wall with the edge ofthe bat while urging their opponents to win if they can or while givingencouragement to a partner. This form of showingconfidence in ones selfis contagious and, as a result, all of the rack-- ets in use are subjectto a severe strain through the joint in a direction to knock the bataskew relatively to its handle. Nails, dowels and the like securingmeanshave been inefiective to withstand rotation of the bat within the handleslot.

A solid and secure joinder of the bat to its handle, found in practiceto be adequate to withstand the strains referred to herein, is achievedby the present invention in the following manner.

The projection 12 on the bat is slotted, as at 17, providing a, spacedpair of handle joint legs 16 and 18. The end of the handle, proximate tothe bat, is provided with a pair of longitudinal Joint grooves 20 and 22each of a width to receive the bat joint legs with a driving fit, routedin opposite edge faces leaving spacing material in the form of a centralleg 24 dimensioned to fit within the slot between the joint legs at theend of the bat. In order to provide a maximum of 5- strength to resistthe blows of the bat against the ball while play is proceeding the outerend of the leg 24 may be cutoff forming wings 26 and 28 at the beveledsides of the handle that will overlap the base of the slot 17 and, byembracing the 10 sides of the bat throughout the full width of thehandle, will give added support to the bat in the desired direction.

While a shortened leg 24 is desirable it is not essential and the handle14 may be provided with side grooves 30 and 32 providing a central leg34 having its end flush with the beveled end of the handle, as shown inFig. 4.

i In either form of handle the length of the central leg issubstantially that of the slot 17 in the bat so that a tight bearing isobtained by the bat joint legs on all surfaces formed by the grooves andcentral leg of the handle. Thus, contact of the inner faces and ends ofthe bat joint legs with the sides of the handle leg and the ends of thehandle side grooves, respectively, secures the two parts in a mannereffectually to resist any turning of the bat in its own plane relativelyto the handle, even under severe edge blows on the bat.

The nature and scope of the present invention having been indicated andits preferred embodiments having been'specifically described, what isclaimed as new, is:

A table tennis racket comprising a bat and a handle, said bat beingrelatively thin as compared tothe handle, and provided with a relativelynarrow extension at one side thereof, said handle having a pair oflongitudinal joint grooves in opposite edge faces at the end that isproxi- 40 mate to the bat and dimensioned to receive tightly two jointlegs formed by slotting one end of the bat approximately the length ofsaid narrow extension, the slot between said bat legs receiving acentralthrust lug formed by the integral material lying between saidhandle grooves, said central thrust lug being substantially as long asthe slot between said bat joint legs and extending approximately to theend of the handle to form a long abutment to thereby take up all theedgewise thrusts against the bat and thus render. extraneous thrustreceiving devices unnecessary. i

rsmoan MARKS.

